A show of brute force: Russian Marines smash BRICKS over a comrade's stomach and hit each other with burning wood during 'skills' display in Manila as Philippines bolsters ties with Moscow



  • Russian Marines showed off their skills to the Filipino public in Manila's central park as part of a 'goodwill visit'
  • They had cinder blocks crushed on their stomachs and endured beatings from flaming planks in the display
  • The Russian Navy announced earlier this week that it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines



Russian Marines shattered glass bottles with their heads and smashed burning wooden planks against each other as part of an eye-catching charm offensive in the Philippines.
The camouflage-clad Marines showed off their pistol-shooting, knife-fighting and martial arts skills to the Filipino public in Manila's central park as part of a 'goodwill visit'.
As bewildered passers-by watched, the Russians smashed boards with their fists, had cinder blocks crushed on their stomachs and endured beatings from flaming planks.
The show culminated with them smashing glass bottles on their heads without any visible effect.



Brute strength: Russian Marines smashed bricks over their comrades' stomachs as part of an eye-catching charm offensive in the Philippines
Brute strength: Russian Marines smashed bricks over their comrades' stomachs as part of an eye-catching charm offensive in the Philippines
Tough nut to crack: The show culminated with them smashing glass bottles on their heads without any visible effect
Tough nut to crack: The show culminated with them smashing glass bottles on their heads without any visible effect
Feeling the burn: As bewildered passers-by watched, the Russians smashed boards with their fists, had cinder blocks crushed on their stomachs and endured beatings from flaming planks
Feeling the burn: As bewildered passers-by watched, the Russians smashed boards with their fists, had cinder blocks crushed on their stomachs and endured beatings from flaming planks
After the display, eager Filipinos rushed to take 'selfies' with the beret-wearing Russians.
'The performances were great, the stunts were quite impressive,' gushed student Antonio Chua.
The visit was spearheaded by two warships following Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's announced pivot away from the United States.  
The camouflage-clad Marines also smashed boards with their fists and feet during the display in the Philippines capital
The camouflage-clad Marines also smashed boards with their fists and feet during the display in the Philippines capital
Russian marines attached to the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs show their skills during a demonstration at a park in Manila
Russian marines attached to the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs show their skills during a demonstration at a park in Manila
The visit was spearheaded by two warships following Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's announced pivot away from the United States
The visit was spearheaded by two warships following Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's announced pivot away from the United States
Filipinos were also allowed to attend an open house on the submarine-hunter Admiral Tributs, one of the two ships making what was only the Russian Navy's third-ever port call in the Philippines
Filipinos were also allowed to attend an open house on the submarine-hunter Admiral Tributs, one of the two ships making what was only the Russian Navy's third-ever port call in the Philippines
Filipinos were also allowed to attend an open house on the submarine-hunter Admiral Tributs, one of the two ships making what was only the Russian Navy's third-ever port call in the Philippines.
Duterte, who calls himself a socialist, has championed a move away from the United States and towards US rivals Russia and China following American criticism of his bloody war on crime that has claimed thousands of lives.
'America has lost,' Duterte said on a visit to China in October last year.
Duterte, who calls himself a socialist, has championed a move away from the United States and towards US rivals Russia and China following American criticism of his bloody war on crime that has claimed thousands of lives
Duterte, who calls himself a socialist, has championed a move away from the United States and towards US rivals Russia and China following American criticism of his bloody war on crime that has claimed thousands of lives
The Russian Navy said earlier this week it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot from the United States
The Russian Navy said earlier this week it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot from the United States
A Marine uses his fists to lash out at a glass container full of water in another show of strength during the bizarre display
A Marine uses his fists to lash out at a glass container full of water in another show of strength during the bizarre display
Russian Marines show their individual combat skills during a public capability demonstration at the Luneta National Park in Metro Manila
Russian Marines show their individual combat skills during a public capability demonstration at the Luneta National Park in Metro Manila
Through the pain barrier: A Marine shows off his fighting skills as crowds watch on in a park in the Philippines today
Through the pain barrier: A Marine shows off his fighting skills as crowds watch on in a park in the Philippines today
Filipino children pose for pictures with some of the Russian soldiers who took part in the display in Manila 
Filipino children pose for pictures with some of the Russian soldiers who took part in the display in Manila 
Russia's ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Thursday he expected a planned visit by Duterte to Russia in April or May to be 'a milestone'
Russia's ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Thursday he expected a planned visit by Duterte to Russia in April or May to be 'a milestone'
'I've realigned myself in your (Chinese) ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way.'
Russia's ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Thursday he expected a planned visit by Duterte to Russia in April or May to be 'a milestone'.
'It will be a very successful visit that will give a powerful impetus (to our) cooperation in different fields,' Khovaev told reporters at the Marines' display.